If there were, there would be outstanding young candidates competing to fill them.

Jon Lester leads the starting staff after his brilliant postseason that ended with Boston’s third World Series championship in 10 years. He’s followed by Clay Buchholz, John Lackey, Jake Peavy and Felix Doubront. The Red Sox shouldn’t miss Ryan Dempster, who would have been competing for a starting spot had he not decided to sit out 2014.

Brandon Workman heads the young group of starters after a rookie season in which he went 6-3. Manager John Farrell showed faith in him by having him pitch a perfect eighth inning against St. Louis in Boston’s clinching Game 6 of the World Series.